The invention is a genetically engineered virus that can be formulated into an effective vaccine for preventing foot-and-mouth disease in cattle and swine. The DNA sequence containing the genetic information for a virus protein is removed, allowing the scientist to produce a weakened version of the virus that can be used as a vaccine. This method produces a deleted virus which is able to assemble and grow in cells in culture.

The genetically engineered foot-and-mouth disease virus induces an FMDV-specific antibody response in inoculated animals that protects them against disease. The invention can be used to combat foot-and-mouth disease which causes painful blisters on the tongue, nose or snout, and feet of livestock, which results in severe economic losses.

Reference:

Please refer to USPN 5,824,316 (Docket #0007.95), which issued on October 20, 1998. Foreign rights are not available.